What is it that people enjoy about a ski holiday? The fresh air, the beautiful alpine environment, the filling and nutritious food that you can wolf down guilt-free after earning it with a day on the slopes. And how can we forget the fun and games of the après ski!
So what do you do if you love everything a ski holiday entails… but you don’t like skiing?
Fortunately for those of you who have never quite got to grips with your skis, or advanced beyond the bruised stage of snowboarding, there are now a range of great adventure travel alternatives. This mean you can make the most of the many ski deals available without doing the splits every five minutes.
Don’t like Skiing? Try these adventure activities!
Ski bobbing
With ski resorts wising up to the untapped market of guests who don’t like to ski, an increasing number are offering ski-bobbing lessons.
This involves a bicycle type frame being attached to a pair of skis. Originally used as a method of transportation around the Alps, skibobbing has increased in popularity over the years and now you can even compete in the Skibobbing World Championship if you have what it takes.
This is a fantastic alternative to skiing for those with knee injuries, and the adrenaline junkies amongst you will be pleased to hear that the main attraction to the sport is the speeds that you can attain – up to 120mph or even more. It is described as being similar to jet-skiing, but on snow.
Dog sledding
With snow falling across the country many of you, if you’re anything like me, have been secretly fantasising about dog sledding to work instead of taking the bus. This fun activity allows you to explore the enchanting snow-covered forests that are often ignored by all those ski bunnies.
Wrap up warm, practice your cries of “mush mush” and enjoy a fun afternoon.
Tubing
We’ve all heard of or experienced the delights of tubing behind a boat in some warm country, or even the slightly more exotic and hugely infamous tubing experience in Vang Vieng in Laos, which attracts hundreds of thousands of backpackers every year. But have you heard of snow tubing?
Nor had we! This increasingly popular past-time involves hopping in an inner tube and hurtling down the mountain in specially carved out tracks. It can be a bumpy ride but you’re guaranteed a laugh or two.
Ice climbing
If you’d like to experience something a little more technical, then why not try your hand at a spot of ice-climbing. In an alpine environment this will usually involve scaling icefalls, frozen waterfalls and cliffs with the assistance of an ice-pick, spiked boots and safety ropes of course.
Climbing alpine ice usually comes part and parcel with climbing a mountain, so the actual climbing will be interspersed with periods of walking too. This is a great opportunity to learn a new skill and affords you the chance to enjoy the mountain from a different perspective.